Wherever we go, we should always keep our hearts and minds open to any new friends we might meet along the way. We never know where an unexpected bond could be forged, and we never know who among the people we see every day will have a major impact in our lives.
When someone approaches with kindness, respond with kindness in turn, for you never know how much that one act can help one another. Or it could grow into something even bigger, even more beautiful, like the Carabello family discovered after moving to a new state.
Moving is always a stressful ordeal. Whether you're remaining in the same city or crossing the country, it's a hassle. Pair that with the uncertainty of a new home, that sense of unfamiliarity, and you have an emotional chunk of time on your hands.
Having help from others during a move is always a welcome presence. Even just a small favor or two can really reduce the stress a moving family feels, and can even strengthen a connection between new neighbors or old friends.
Trying to reach out and make that first contact with someone new can be tough, especially if you suffer with confidence issues. Don't let a lack of confidence keep you away from new relationships any longer, it's time to leave it behind.
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That's exactly what happened to the Caraballo family, who made an unexpected connection after moving half way across the country.
Sharaine and Wilson Caraballo uprooted their family of eight from the East coast and moved all the way to Texas after purchasing a home there. The house needed some work done, a project Wilson began as soon as they arrived so he could help create a beautiful, comfortable place for his family to live.
One day, while Wilson was working away, he got to meet one of their new neighbors, 82-year-old Paul Callahan. He offered Wilson a ladder to help with his work, and the two hit it off as friends from there.
In fact, the entire Carabello family took to Paul very quickly. They became very close, with Paul entering a grandfather-type role to the children of the family especially. His presence helped the family feel so much more welcomed in their new neighborhood.
What the Carabellos didn't know is that they were providing just as much joy, comfort, and love to Paul as he was providing to them, filling a hole that had been left in his heart by a recent tragedy.
Six months prior to the family's arrival next door, Paul's wife passed away. The Carabello's arrival and swift 'adoption' of the man into their family provided him with a way to escape the newfound loneliness of his own home.
Sharaine explained how Paul's friendliness has been a real comfort in their lives. "One of my biggest fears was meeting our new neighbors. I was wondering who they were going to be and what they were going to be like.
"When Paul welcomed us into the neighborhood, I knew I had made the right choice."
Paul visits just about every other day, is invited to every family cookout, and spends all his holidays at the Carabello home.
This past Father's Day, they even gifted Paul with a new outfit as a present, thanking him for the joy he's brought the family as a whole.
Paul offered much more than just another body in the home. When they first arrived, he gave them plenty of new homeowners advice and helped with any issue within the house they were facing, lending them his wealth of knowledge and years' worth of experience fixing up his own home.
"He was coming over with tools. He'd bring screwdrivers and teach Wilson how to fix up the garage and Wilson followed all his advice," Sharaine said. “He’s always coming over with little trinkets for the kids. They play with him a lot and call him Uncle Paul. He’s got stories for days.”
The kids adore Paul. They're always happy to see him, love him just as they would a blood-related grandfather, and appreciate him as their parents do.
"I asked what drew him to us and he said he was a very social person and that he grew up around lots of kids," Sharaine continued. "'That's how I grew up, my house was always where everybody hung out.’ He’s also the last of his siblings, who have all passed away."
The value Paul places in family is not only admirable, but beautiful, as are the Carabellos for welcoming him into their lives so easily. Bonds formed between neighbors, community members, and peers can have just as much importance as familial ties. Support can come from anywhere, but should be cherished everywhere.
Limiting beliefs can unconsciously keep you from creating new connections like this. They can also keep you from progressing in many areas of life, leaving you stuck lagging behind while the rest of your peers continue down their path.
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